Modernism in Virginia Woolf’s

Novel Mrs. Dalloway

Outline of the essay

The term ‘modernism’ is famously difficult to characterize due to the term includes an
assortment of creative and philosophical development which incorporate imagery, futurism, imagism,
vorticism information and others. Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway is one of the extraordinary classics
of writing that still oversees to captivate readers. Her classic novel is distinguished by modernist
ideals such as caustic pessimism, skepticism, acquiescence and a domineering despairing. Woolf
stands with the 20th century Modernist greats such as her modern, T.S. Eliot who too aced the
craftsmanship of the literary stream of awareness.
The foremost overwhelming characteristic is the content and the narrative style. Virginia
Woolf in Mrs. Dalloway investigates with the stream of awareness method in which the stream of
dialect is as indistinguishable and digressive as humane considerations. There are flashbacks and
fast-forwards in time and some of the time the preparation of thoughts never proceeds. The dialect of
the mind is exceptionally basic since during the modernist period, the opportunity of the intellect and
the focus of the need of structure reflecting the disappointments of institutions.
Alienation comes into play in Mrs. Dalloway since one sees the wide disengage among
characters. Septimus’s craziness confines him from society as he internalizes and within the process
estranges himself. Septimus is debased to an outsider from society who cannot function anymore
inside it. The topic of estrangement backs its head once more in Mrs. Dalloway’s possessive life. Her
sentiments of disconnectedness continue particularly at the evening supper she hosts for her
companions and associates..
Another case of alienation pictured in Mrs. Dalloway represents the elderly lady within the
window across from Mrs. Dalloway’s house. The elderly lady lives solely, never accepts any guests
and remains enclosed in her home. Mrs. Dalloway watches that the matured lady is cut off from
society, yet admires that society isn't granted to interfere with her space. Lucrezia, Septimus’ wife
feels desolate and antagonized since she needs to back her shell-shocked partner. Within the
relationship, “she was very lonely, she was very unhappy! She cried for the first time since they were
married” (Woolf 2003, p. 101).
Cynicism is another characteristic of modernism in which characters either embrace gloomy
views or the writings conclude antagonistically. Woolf implants pessimism in her storyline by
embeddings the account of Septimus’ suicide. Suicide is an occasion in which the victim sees no
elude from life’s obstacles and happens as a direct result of misery, depression, maturing and coming
up short wellbeing (Ron 2004, p. 18).
In conclusion, Woolf’s model innovation as proves in Mrs. Dalloway makes her stand out as a
modernist writer. Mrs. Dalloway has offered definition to concepts of Innovation, shedding light on
the cherished beliefs of the scholarly development and period.